Sidon was an ancient city located on the coast of what is now modern day Lebanon. It was founded around the 3rd millennium BC and became an important center of trade and industry. The city is known for its role as a major center of maritime trade in the ancient Near East and was famous for producing purple dye from murex shells. The city is mentioned in the Bible and associated with the stories of the prophets Elijah and Elisha. It was conquered by the Persians, the Greeks and the Romans and was later an important center of study and learning. The city was finally abandoned and is now an important site for archaeologists studying the history of the ancient Near East.